Col. N. L. McGinnis, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
********************************************** 

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

     COL. N. L. MCGINNIS is the proprietor of a livery stable, wagon shop and
feed store in Alexandria, and in the management of his affairs has shown
excellent judgment and keen business foresight.  He is a Tennesseean, born
August 3, 1829, to C. H. and Malinda (Moore) McGinnis, natives,
respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, their birth occurring in 1799
and 1804.  Mr. McGinnis was taken to Grainger County, Tenn., when a boy by
his parents, but he subsequently went to Monroe, and from there to Hardin
County.  Later he went to North Carolina, and while in that State, clerking
in a store belonging to an uncle, he was married in 1820.  In 1839, as he
had always interested himself prominently in politics, he was elected a
member of the Lower House of the State Legislature of Tennessee, and served
continuously until 1847, when he removed to the State of Mississippi, in
which State he was engaged in farming for four years, after which he went
to Bastrop County, Tex., where he gave his attention to farming and made
his home until his death, which occurred in 1884.  His widow survived him
until 1889, when she, too, passed away.  N. L. McGinnis received an
academic education in Tennessee and Texas, and after leaving school he was
engaged in farming for some four years, then began merchandising in
Lexington, Tex., where he continued in business until the breaking out of
the war.  He then organized Company H, Second Texas Infantry, of which he
was captain in Mississippi and Tennessee, taking part in the battles of
Shiloh, Iuka, Farmersville, Corinth (in which battle he was promoted to the
rank of major for gallant conduct), Grenada and Chickasaw Bayou (where he
was promoted to lieutenant colonel, but had commanded his regiment
continuously from the battle of Corinth until the close of the war).  He
was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, was paroled, returned home and was
afterward exchanged.  His regiment was then reorganized at Houston, Tex.,
and he was in command of the city of Galveston at the time of the
surrender.  After the war Col. McGinnis returned to Texas, and for some
time was engaged in farming and trading in stock.  He has been a resident
of Alexandria since 1868, where his attention has been given to mercantile
operations in connection with the above mentioned callings.  He was married
here, in 1872, to Miss Val McKinney, a daughter of Jesse McKinney, a native
of Alabama, now deceased.  He has had six children by this and a former
marriage:  Laura (wife of H. Huckaby, of Lee County, Tex.), Ada (wife of J.
S. Reat, also of that place,) and James H.  By his present wife:  Albert
Lee, Robert J. and Mollie V. (at home).  Mr. McGinnis is a member of Oliver
Lodge No. 84, of the A. F. & A. M., of Alexandria, and he was at one time
deputy grand master for the State of Texas in the I. O. O. F.  He also
belongs to the K. of P. at Alexandria, and he and his estimable wife are
worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  He has served as a
member of the town council of Alexandria for six years, and now belongs to
the parish school board.